The Benefits of an Insulated Dog House

As with anything insulated, your home, a lunch pail, or a thermal mug, the insulative properties are not just for cool or cold issues. This is the case with an insulated dog house as well. The extra lining will assit in keeping your pet cool and comfortable in warm or hot climates. On a hot humid summer day this should be a huge consideration for pet owners.

The ability to kee your dog cool is accomplished by the insulation reflecting the suns heat in the summer. The lined dog house will reflect 97% of radiant heat for maximum comfort inside the dog house. Naturally in the winter, wind, snow and the cold air are kept outside. The dogs body heat actually serves as a little furnace to create heat inside. This is why you don't want a house too big as there will be more dead space to keep warm. So a house large enough for their comfort but not too large so the open space makes it cooler.

When constructing a dog house you should consider insulation to maintain a comfortable climate for your pet. A flap or door on the house would be needed to hold the warmer air in if you are in a cold climate.

Your dog won't understand the lengths you have gone to for their comfort by they will enjoy the comfortable space you have given them when you constructed their new dog house.

Your Must-Know Guide to Dog House Design

When considering a dog house for your pet – Size clearly does matter, which we have covered, however other elements should not be overlooked.

Ventilation – typically a dog house will be vented at the highest point in the roof. For a peaked roof this would be at the crest. Hot air needs to escape in warm climates and summer months.

Elevation – where you are positioning the dog house, does it require that it be raised to avoid it filling with water when it rains or snow melts? If it is a low lying area you may want a raised platform to avoid flooding inside.

Maintenance – the exterior of your dog house is like any other wood that you have outside, you pressure wash, stain and seal your deck every year or two, so you should be caring for the dog house the same way. Cedar is a preferred wood for outdoor use. Cedar trees are grown for their durable (decay-resistant) scented wood, resistance to weather which makes it ideal for outdoor applications. With proper care these dog houses can last for years!

Temperature control – you can add insulation to the dog house for use in cold climates. You can even mount a heater/air conditioning unit for the perfect climate all year round. When you go to the additional length of insulating or adding a heater/ AC don’t forget a flap or door so that the air temperature inside can remain fairly consistent.

Materials – keep in mind that all materials should be free of harmful oils; CFC’s and the insulation should be something harmless to your pet. A barrier should be put up on the inside to protect the layer of insulation however the barrier and the insulation should not be susceptible to splintering, cracking or be toxic to the pets in the event that then chew at it.

Your pets comfort is important and you need to think of your choices in the dog house designs to give them a dry space with comfortable temperatures. When you review your list of options for materials however your pet’s safety needs to take precedence

Heater/Air conditioning units: currently on Backorder but will soon be available at Doowaggle

Dog House Plans – Sizing Do’s and Don’ts

You know your Dog better than anyone else, so these are suggested guidelines. Some pets have ‘quirks’ in their personalities that you may have to factor in. I had a 135 pound mastiff that refused to go through a doggie door, even if there was plenty of room for him, he would not go through. Generally when you are reviewing dog house plans, an important issue is the opening into the house. With a door or opening into a house, you want the dog to have the pet duck its head and the suggested size here would be three quarters of the dogs height to its shoulder. This will enable them to tuck themselves in with ease but it means that cool air, wind, rain and snow will stay out!

The length and width for inside space are important as well. You can’t select dog house plans based on the breed of dog because they are not all created equally. The pet needs to be able to walk right in, turn themselves around and be able to lay down in their home comfortably without a head or legs sticking out the door. Going too bit has it’s disadvantages which is more significant in a cooler climate. With inside space it will retain heat better if it’s not ‘oversized’. The general guideline for inside measurements is to have it sized approximately 25% larger than the pet.

Naturally if you have a chubby dog or a large breed dog that is still growing you need to take these factors into account. Plans for a dog house should fit your pet and your pets needs. This will be a key point in your building it yourself to make sure it’s for ‘your’ dog, not for just ‘any’ dog. Different size dogs require different amounts of food, different amounts of exercise and they take up a different amount of space.

Wooden Dog Houses

In Rome and Greek history small companion dogs existed just like we see people tucking them in a purse or under their arm today. These small pets were considered then to be status symbols and their master’s home was their home. There also existed several breeds in the ‘history of’ dogs that were original bred centuries ago as hunting dogs. Historically, back to 4500 BC in Egypt, dogs were held in high esteem as pets and hunting companions. With large secure kennels for the dogs comfort and professional handlers to care for them. These Kennels would house many dogs so they were constructed for the masses back then, not the single or double house we would typically see today.

Along with the need for these house and kennels for breeding, competitive dog shows held would required the dogs would be shipped in wooden crates that would also double as their homes. Dogs were also commonly used as security animals and messengers during the world wars and they too were housed in a wooden home with ventilation as well.

Wood has been and still is the preferred material for Dog houses. The reasons for this include that wood is readily available to most anyone, offers a solid and sturdy construction without being too expensive, great insulation properties and easy to work with. These were all reasons to choose wood construction looking back in history and still maintains the place of preferred material today for all the same reasons.  With a set of blueprints you can easily construct the same kind of sturdy solid home for your pet.

Extra Large Dog needs and Extra Large Dog House

Finding room an extra large breed dog is not always a simple task. When they lay down, from nose to tail these pets can take up quite a bit of real estate in a room. Some large and extra large breed dogs were bred for hunting. For these animals they will have thick heavy coats and will likely prefer a slightly cooler climate. This will mean you need to have a shaded place for the summer, and somewhere they can enjoy a cool day outside protected from the elements in the spring, fall and winter. Knowing that your best buddy has a safe and comfortable place with an extra large dog house to retire too will be a benefit to your pet, and to you.

For someone with the inclination building a nice extra large dog house for your pet can be rewarding. However if you are not set up with all the information this may end up being more costly and time consuming that it needs to be. By getting plans to build you will have the following key advantages:

A.Your material specifications.
B.Your tool needs.
C.Your level of skill required.
D.How much time it’ll take to finish your project.

There will be little or no guess work involved. When the task is complete you will have given your pet a place to call home and this will be a benefit to everyone in your home. They have their personal space and you may even gain back a bit of yours back in the house. For the dog that loves being outdoors you have opened the door up to a comfortable oasis where you know they are safe and secure. A well constructed, attractive extra large dog house that you will be proud to declare “I did it myself ”

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